Tank arrangement

ABSTRACT

A tank arrangement particularly adapted for processing small parts characterized by the indexing of several tanks into processing position through simultaneous vertical movement.

United States Patent Inventor Robert L. Koch, 11

Evansville, Ind. Appl. No. 765,371 Filed Oct. 7, 1968 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 Assignee Ashdee Corporation Evansville, Ind.

TANK ARRANGEMENT 3 Claims, ZDrawing Figs.

[1.8. CI. 134/61, 118/64,118/421,134/118 Int. Cl B05c 3/10, B08b 3/04 Field of Search 134/75, 80,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1915 Stevens 1/1921 Shil'lOW 1 1/1940 Ackles 2/1956 Orrell et al r 3/1964 Kaulen FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1960 Australia 11/1934 GreatBritain Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorney Warren D. Flackbert 118/421 134/117X 118/421X 118/421X movement.

PATENTEU HAR 21971 Ins--- I INVENTOR Aoaskf 1. X06, .2

BY Zm QZ/MW ATTORNEY largely on floor space requirements, particularly with a conveyori zed operation. In this connection, muchfloor space is required for the parts to conventionally passthrough the respective bath tanks, resulting in increased manufacturing costs and otherwise inefficient plant layout.

The present invention affords an'efficient arrangement for small parts, such as door knobs, thermostats, hinges or the like, to be coated or otherwise treated in a series of bath tanks, where the latter are mounted on a platform which is selectively movable upwardly anddownwardly in response to the desired indexing. In other words, various operations can be achieved through a minimum of'space, where movement of the conveyor carrying the parts and the platform carrying the operational tanks are timed in a controlled sequence.

A better understanding of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunctio with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation showing the tank arrangement defining the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contembe used in combination with a housing having a c'onventional heating oven 16 at the top portion thereof, through which a conventional conveyor 14 travels. The conveyor 14 has a series. of passes which enter and leave the oven 16 plated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to 2 though openings 16 a at its bottom, and typically includes chains 14 a which travel on sprockets 14 b. Parts 24 under processing depend from hangers l4 c (only three of which are shown in FIG. 1) mountedon members 14 d which extend between the chains 14 a (see FIG. 2). The conveyor 14 may be motor driven and a takeup mechanism 14 e is provided for efr ficient operation. 4 i v A series of treating tanks 12 are disposed on a platform 21 positioned within the housing 20 beneath the oven 16. The platform 21 is movable upwardly and downwardly through, typically, hydraulic means 23, including power piston 23 a.

Scissor-type members 25 are disposed between the platform 21 and base 20 a of the housing 20 for purposes of steadying platform 21.

In use, the platform 21 is movablefrom the solid line position of FIG. 1 to the-broken line position of FIG. 1, where, in the latter position, the parts 24 under treatment will be sub.- merged in the materials in the tanks 12. Typically, several processing operations can take place at the same time, by the selective simultaneous raising of the platform 21 carrying the tanks 12 with respect to movement ofthe conveyor 14.

Obviously, a saving of space is achieved by the invention, as well as convenience, positive action, a reduction in manufac, turing costs, and an increase of overall production efficiency, The invention described herein is susceptible to changes, as, for example, the means for moving the platform may be other then hydraulic, i.e., may be another mechanical arrangement, and, accordingly, the descriptionshould be considered illUS'! trative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

1. A tank arrangement for treating a plurality of parts in a conveyorized operation comprising a platform mounting a series of tanks containing treating material, a conveyor support.

ing a series of parts, and means selectively raising and lowering said platform for. simultaneously immersing said parts into said treating material in said series of tanks for preselected hydraulic.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 where steadying members are disposed beneath said platform. 

1. A tank arrangement for treating a plurality of parts in a conveyorized operation comprising a platform mounting a series of tanks containing treating material, a conveyor supporting a series of parts, and means selectively raising and lowering said platform for simultaneously immersing said parts into said treating material in said series of tanks for preselected varied processing.
 2. The tank arrangement of claim 1 where said means is hydraulic.
 3. The arrangement of claim 1 where steadying members are disposed beneath said platform. 